Podcast: Off Road Independence

When I first bought my Jeep I didn't realize that not only was I buying a great new vehicle but I was entering into a community of the most amazing people. I can't even begin to explain in words the immense connection you feel with complete strangers.


The fantastic camaraderie you share and the people you meet is indescribable. There is no other type of community that comes close to the Jeep community. I have made so many new friends and met some great people. The experiences I have continue to amaze me and I look forward to continuing to be amazed.

I talked of one of these experiences in my second podcast

interview.














                Simple Living - Enjoying Life -- The Jeep Momma Way!

Women's Wheeling Day Adventure

Saturday morning I got up bright and early before the sun was even up. I climbed aboard my Jeep and headed North. To a place that brings so much joy to so many people - Rausch Creek Off Road Park









It was the 2nd annual Women's Wheeling Day and I was ready to hit the trails. It would be my fifth time off roading but my first time on the trails with out an instructor.



As I checked in at the office a myriad of emotions were flowing through my body -- excitement, nervous, anxious and eager.

Eager & excited to get back out on the trails. Once you've been bitten by the off roading bug it turns into an addiction. You want to be in your Jeep out on the trails as much as humanly possible.      

Anxious to meet other Jeepers for the first time wondering if I would be accepted into the Jeep Girl club.

Nervous for many reasons. At one point I felt the butterflies in my stomach and was worried I might throw up. I knew I would have to air down my tires and I had never done that before. I was also nervous because I would be out there on my own making sure nothing would happen to my daily driver. I didn't have that comfort of an instructor to make sure my Jeep would be ok. It was all on my shoulders -- or so I thought!

Well, the last two emotions were very unnecessary.  All the women who came out to wheel were fantastic. I was accepted into the Jeep Girl club. They were friendly, helpful and gave positive words of encouragement. They made the day that much more fun! 

As for airing down my tires. I can't believe I even worried about that at all. One of the most simplest of four wheeling tasks.  I broke out my tire deflators and hooked them up. The only thing is to remember to re-air up your tires at the end of the trip. 

By the way, in case you didn't know -- airing down your tires is an off roading must. Lowering the tire pressure increases the amount of wheel surface that touches the trails. It allows for better traction and a smoother roll over the rocks. 

I was in one of the groups that stuck to the green trails.  At one point I debated going with the group heading out on the blue trails. The blue trails are more difficult than the green. My past two times in the instructional classes I was mostly on the green trails I felt a need to maybe move up. 

But upon the advise of some very experienced drivers I stuck with the green trails. They assured me there would be some intense obstacles.

And oh boy were they right. Right off the bat we hit two Rock Garden obstacles. Let's just say they broke me in. They were intense but my little itty bitty stock Jeep and I made it through with flying colors. 

I've posted both the Rock Garden obstacle videos on You Tube - My channel The Jeep Momma. 

All in all it was a super fabulous day with a group of amazing women. I can't wait for the 3rd annual Women's Wheeling Day. 

In the meantime I still have lots of video footage to view and lots of pictures to look at. Plus I'm thinking it's time to buy sway bar disconnects. There were some moments on the trail that they would have come in handy.

           Simple Living - Enjoying Life -- The Jeep Momma Way!

Women's Wheeling Day

This past Saturday I hopped in my Jeep and headed North to one of my favorite places for Women's Wheeling Day. 

This time there would be no instructor, no class but a fun trail ride with some great Jeepers. 

This was the second annual event at Rausch Creek Off Road Park. I was excited to spend the day with other women who share the same enthusiasm for their Jeep and off roading as I do. 

I met several women in a variety of different Jeeps. For some women it was their first time out on the trails, but the others have been wheeling for years.

We spent about seven hours out on the trails -- crawling over rocks, wheeling through some muddy puddles and sharing the joy of being out in our Jeeps.

There were times where it was a little intense for me -- because I'm still a little itty bitty Stock. Like always she did not let me down and made it through all the obstacles.   

Even though she came through all the obstacles she did get a little trail damage.
Now the question is do I fix it or leave it for posterity. 

Okay so it's not true damage but it's a scratch in the passenger door. I can take it to the dealer and get them 
to buff it out -- we have a scratch and dent warranty.  



Or do I leave it. My husband says I need to take it to the dealer. But I'm thinking it's a badge of honor. 

Purple Accessories

To know me is to know I don't want to be like everyone else. I certainly don't want my Jeep to be like every other black Wrangler. Slowly I'm making it my own unique Jeep.  

To know me is to also know my favorite color is purple. I have been trying to find ways to add purple to my Jeep. Some Jeepers I met had their red Jeep grille bedlined black. It looked really awesome. The main reason they bedlined it was to protect it.  So I called the company who did their grille. Good News!!! They can do purple.  Bad News. It's twice as much money and will eventually fade.  So I don't think I want to spend $400 to color my grill purple when in six months it will turn white.

Oh... so back to the drawing board. But wait -- as I was looking through a Jeep parts magazines I noticed aluminum grille inserts. Hmmmm what if I could paint them purple.

I wonder it that would work. What are these grille inserts for anyways? Has anyone ever painted them? Looks like I have some research to do.

Oh but look at these! I want!!!! Now I'm on a mission.  Guess what -- this Jeep is for sale right in my own backyard. Looks like I'll be giving them a call.






                   Simple Living - Enjoying Life -- The Jeep Momma Way!

Recovery Kit Tips

When I began delving into the world of off roading, I was told the first changes I should make - that were the most important - were recovery changes. So, I went for a front bumper first. Soon I'd like to add a winch to my Barricade Trail Force HD front bumper.  In the meantime I am making sure all the other recovery needs are being met. I'm making a list & checking it twice. 

I'm thinking there really is only one thing I truly need for recovery. Recovery = flat tire, stuck Jeep or broken stuff.  My handy dandy Triple A card. But wait! Do you think they will come out onto the "off the asphalt" trails to rescue me?  Hmmmmm.... Maybe not. I guess I better put Plan B into action. Yeah... I get to make a list. I love lists. 






A Recovery Strap, Tree Trunk Protector and Leather Gloves -- My latest purchase. 

















Duct tape and Gorilla tape -- what is the difference between the too, I wonder.

Tire Repair Kit
By the way, I still haven't received my $15 from the last roofers nail in my tire. Looks like that company won't be getting our business.  We are in the market for a new roof. Too bad, so sad roofing company. Hmmm... writing me a $15 check to make $15,000, not a very sound business choice to deny that me that $15 check. Oh well.











Mallet -- although I still need my BFH (Big F***** Hammer)





Jumper Cables




Bungee Straps & Zip Ties You never know when you are going to run into a criminal and need to make a citizen's arrest. 

Folding Shovel


Still on my list is a Winch, a Hi-lift Jack and a cheater pipe. Which is a really cool idea for all Jeep mom's! We sometimes need that extra leverage. We may not have the upper body strength as most men, but we can be pretty resourceful.

Well... my list doesn't seem that long.  Maybe I'm missing something important?/ I guess I will soon find out. I know you all will let me know.







                  Simple Living - Enjoying Life -- The Jeep Momma Way!

First YouTube Video

Back in the day when I worked in television news video editing was second nature for me. Back then we edited our video on big bulky three quarter inch machines. Video editing on a computer wasn't heard of.

 I left that TV business years ago to stay at home to raise my family.  Since that time technology has changed the whole industry.  

Well, today I had my first taste of that new technology. For years I had been missing the creative process of generating my own pieces of videography into art. But today I was able to delve back into that creative process. At first I was disappointed and very frustrated, because the software I tried using made no sense to me. Finally after trying out a couple of products I found one that worked for me. Sony's Movie Studio 13 -- It was almost like back on those old three quarter inch machines. 

After about twenty years away from it here's my first attempt at a passion I have for so long missed. 

The release of my first music video -- The sights and sound of Two Moms and a Jeep Wheelin.  


Simple Living - Enjoying Life -- The Jeep Momma Way!

Must Have Tools

In the past year or so I have been fascinated with numbers. Specifically seeing repeated numbers over and over again.  Ever since reading about numbers and angels I guess you could say I am a little fixated with numbers in my life. While I don't know if I believe in all that, part of me believes things happen for a reason and we need to go with it.


So after hearing the words "Harbor Freight" from three different people - 3 - yes it's a number with many meanings - I figured some greater force out there was trying to tell me something.
What? -- Well no one really knows, and it is up to me to figure out. Or it could totally be nothing. But, I like to believe my guardian angel is out their helping me along in life.

So, I'm going to go with it. I went online to see what Harbor Freight is. It's a tool store. Hmmmm.... I wonder if I have the tools it takes to build and maintain my Jeep.  But how am I going to know what I need? Ha -- All I have to do is ask. 

So let's take a look at what I have and you can tell me what I'm missing -- and why I might need it.

So here's my tool box.

What in the world is this? Oh yeah.. a Christmas gift from years ago!  It's pink! What am I doing with pink tools?  Hey, I could sell them for Jeep Parts!










Wrenches & Pliers

Screwdrivers - flat heads and Phillips. Wait a minute.  There are no flat head screwdriver in here.  Looks like my first item on my tool shopping list.

Okay I'm not sure what this is or what it might be used for.  I might have accidentally brought this home from the dentist one day. 

Wire stripper -- now I'm not sure I even need this.  I don't plan on doing any stripping while I work on my Jeep.

 Ratchets -- Work Gloves -- And Purple Sandpaper

And no tool box would be complete with out Super Glue. Especially for those Rock Sliders - HAHAHA!

And everyone needs a rolled up coil of garden hose to help lift those heavy Jeep parts up to your Jeep!

















Okay so now -- What am I missing?  I all ready know a flat head screwdriver.  Oh and a hammer? Which about a month ago I would have said I don't need a hammer.  Women are not like men and don't need to fix everything with a hammer.  But, I found while putting on those sliders a hammer came in quite handy.  Sometimes a little force goes a long way.

Please let me know what I should add to my "Tool Shopping List" and why I would need to use it.  Please don't spend my money recklessly! I'm still trying to save for Jeep Parts.

Next time we will look at my "Recovery Kit".

            Simple Living - Enjoying Life -- The Jeep Momma Way!

Podcast Guest

Oh how times have changed since I was a teenager or even in the past decade. Technology has made our lives different in so many ways --- good and bad.  We have added a lot of new words to the dictionary -- texting - social media -Instagram - photo bomb - podcast.

And by the way... I never knew what a podcast was until recently.  Yeah, Yeah I know. I'm a little behind the times. 

But, I've quickly found out about podcasts in the past couple of weeks. I've had a few requests to be interviewed for some of these podcasts. I'm happy to say you won't just get to read my words but today you can actually hear some of my words. 

The folks over at xjtalk.com , Tony and Josh, thought I would be an interesting guest on their podcast so they interviewed me. My full interview will be next week on episode 151.  But tonight you can get a snippet of the interview.  You can check it out at xjtalkshow.com episode 150. I'm at about 1:41 into the interview.  And don't forget to tune in again next week.




                  Simple Living - Enjoying Life -- The Jeep Momma Way!

Quadretec Tent Sale

Saturday morning bright and early I hopped into my Jeep and headed North. The butterflies were fluttering in my stomach because I was entering unknown territory.  A world foreign to me. But luckily as I neared my destination I received a message that a fellow Jeeper had all ready arrived at said location. Oh wait -- did I forget to mention where I was headed.  Oh yeah --  I guess I did -- oops.  









The 9th annual Quadratec Tent Sale in West Chester, Pennsylvania. When I pulled up I was in awe. It was like I had reached heaven. There must have been hundreds of Jeeps parked in lots and along the roadways. As I was walking to the tent sale admiring the beauty that surrounded me I almost ran into a sign. 

Finally, I reached the many tents that I knew would be full of jeep stuff for sale. But I didn't know how crazed it would be. But thankfully I had someone to guide me through the process.  The items for sale -- at an extremely discounted price -- would be set out on tables. Once everything was placed on the tables -- bumpers, tube doors, sliders and more -- the crowds were released. Then you would grab what you wanted. I've never seen anything like it. Normally at these type of shopping events you would get fighting, yelling and arguments. But not with Jeepers. Everyone was polite and kind. It was an amazing thing to see. It restored my faith in humanity. #JeepHumanity


Well, my friend walked away with a really cool rear bumper for $200. Me -- nothing. But that's okay --  because my goal was the experience of the event and to network with the vendors -- Which I did. Next time, I will prepare a little better and have a shopping list. I just didn't know what to expect. Of course -- when I got home I remembered some things I wanted to get. So I went online to Quadratec.com and ordered them. So I guess in the end I didn't come home empty handed. Now I get to wait for the Big Brown Truck --  Christmas in October!   Plus, the best part was connecting with a Jeep friend!

Simple Living - Enjoying Life -- The Jeep Momma Way!